Keep an eye on: Uffe Manich Bech

               Age: 19 (19-01-1993)
          Position: Striker - 
                    Centre Forward      
              Club: Lyngby BK,
                    Danish Superliga
             Debut: 01-08-2010 against
                    Silkeborg IF (2-2)
International Caps: Denmark U19: 8 Match(es)
                                 2 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U18: 4 Match(es)
                                 1 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U17: 10 Match(es)
                                  6 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U16: 7 Match(es)
                                 3 Goal(s)
             Value: £175.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk

Since his change from Hellerup Idrætsklub to Lyngby BK in 2006, Uffe Bech has become another product of the clubs fantastic youth department. The talented striker, who can play several offensive positions, signed his first contract with Lyngby aged 15. Back then he had just won the national championship for U16. 

Uffe Manich Bech describes himself as a player who is “quick on his feet” and believes that he thinks fast and is playing in a high tempo”. 

The player also said: “I am good in the offensive play and in creating chances both for myself and my teammates.”

The description is backed up by Danish national U19 coach Per Andersen:


“Uffe is a player with a very high intelligent for the game. It means he is great at reading the game. He is tactical clever, and a technical  great player, as well. He is very creative and good at finding the openings and he can be used on several positions.”

In 2009 Uffe Bech, was invited on a trial in Blackburn Rovers where they, according to Sky Sports, had the chance of a permanent stay if they could impress the club. Bech said about his stay in Blackburn Rovers: 

“Blackburn was the first trial I had, and it was a fan experience. It was instructive; we played against some players that were physical bigger than me, and I think it went well.” 

However, the talented player returned to Lyngby but was soon invited on another trial. This time in Heerenveen. Once again, Bech returned to Lyngby, but this time to have his debut for the first team squad six months after. 

Uffe Bech had his first appearance in the 2-2 draw against Silkeborg IF in August 2010 and later that month he signed a new contract with Lyngby BK. In February 2011, the player was invited on a trial in German club HSV. However, Niels Frederiksen, Manager of Lyngby made it clear that Uffe Bech would return to Lyngby. Asked what he would suggest as the next step for Uffe Bech, Per Andersen said:

“He is in a good development in Lyngby, and I would suggest that he stays in the club and becomes a regular part of the Superliga squad. That is the first thing he should have as a goal for his future.”

Uffe Bech is willing to develop in Lyngby, but also said that:

“I want to play abroad at some point. I believe I have the talent and will for it, and then we will see how far it reaches. It is my goal.”

The first goal in the blue shirt came in April 2011 when the 18-year old striker was sent on the pitch in the 72nd minute against FC Midtjylland. Three minutes later had he smashed the leather in the back of the net and made himself matchwinner. An experience the striker sees as one of his biggest moments.

In December 2011, Uffe Manich Bech was awarded the Danish Football Associations U19-talent price. A price that have been awarded to some of the most influential players in Danish football, as Jon Dahl Thomasson, Jesper Grønkjær and Peter Løvenkrands. The striker said about winning the price:

“I was glad and proud of being awarded the price, but I see it as a pat in the shoulder rather than a quality stamp. It does not mean that I can go out and think I am the king here, it means I need to work harder and first of all here in Lyngby.” 

The young offensive player has earlier been compared with the Argentinean super striker, Lionel Messi, by Danish expert Per Frimann. However, the player himself has another view:

“There is a long road to become Messi and I'm never going to be the same player as Messi. It is possible that we both are small players, but we do not have the same style of playing”.

It is worth mentioning that Uffe Manich Bech was a crucial factor in Lyngby BK’s reserves victory against Viborg IF’s reserves, during the winter preseason. The team was behind by 4-0 when Uffe Bech made a hattrick in sixteen minutes, bringing the club back in the game, which they won – 5-4.
                    
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Keep an eye on: Andreas Retz Laudrup
    
               Age: 21 (10-11-1990)      
          Position: Striker - Left Wing
              Club: FCN (FC Nordsjælland),
                    Danish Superliga
             Debut: 23-04-2009
                    against Brøndby If,
                    Danish Superliga
International Caps: Denmark U21:
                    6 Match(es)
                    2 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U20:
                    1 Match(es)
                    0 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U19: 2 Match(es)
                                 0 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U18: 3 Match(es)
                                 0 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U17: 5 Match(es)
                                 0 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U16: 2 Match(es)
                                 0 Goal(s)
             Value: £450.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk)

Andreas Laudrup had his youth career in Boldklubben Søllerød-Vedbæk before joining Lyngby BK in the 2006/07 season. Laudrup was invited on a trial to the Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam twice in his first year in Lyngby, and it was reported that Barcelona and Real Madrid also were interested in a tryout for the young player.

When Andreas Laudrup’s father, the Danish football legend, Michael Laudrup was hired as manager for the Spanish La Liga team Gestafe, Andreas joined Real Madrid. As Andreas Laudrups father is a well known name in Spanish football, the player decided to use his mother’s maiden name, Retz, to avoid attention around his personality. Danish U21 national coach Morten Wieghorst why the player chose to use another name:
“As soon as the name Laudrup is being mentioned, you think of especially Michael and Brian. People, conscious or unconscious, compare Andreas with his father and uncle. It is a heavy burden for a young player, but Andreas is aware of how it is and has become much stronger as well as a lot better in tackling this than he was before”.

The former FCN-coach also said that Andreas Laudrup was “beginning to make a name of himself”, and that it was “the best thing he could do, as people at some point will associate the name with him and not his father and uncle”.

During his time in Real Madrid’s youth department, the Spanish club was very eager to get him on a full time contract. Real Madrid’s youth coach, Juvenil A Alejandro Menéndez Garcia, said to the Danish newspaper B.T:
“What I have seen from Andreas Laudrup is very positive. He has the right ingredients to become a star player”.

When Michael Laudrup signed a contract as manager for Russian Spartak Moscow, the club tried to sign Andreas, as well. However, they younger Laudrup rejected and instead transferred back to Lyngby on a free contract, to play as an amateur.

Three months after his transfer to Lyngby, the young attacker, was about to sign with a new Dutch club Heerenveen, according to the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. Asked if Laudrup is too good to Danish football, Morten Wieghorst said:
“Andreas is still a young player, and he is in a good club [FC Nordsjælland] at the moment, with a great environment, where they are good at developing young players. He has already of first team experience in the Danish Superliga, and he needs more of it before he can take the next step”.

In January 2009, Laudrup transferred to his current club FCN where he signed a contract for 3 years. He had his debut against Brøndby IF 3 months after he joined the club. Great performances for his club resulted in a place in the Danish U21 squad, where he had his debut in the 1-0 victory against Mexico. Morten Wieghorst, who at that time was Laudrup’s manager in Nordsjælland here, gives his view on the players’ strengths and weaknesses:

“He has his best forces in the offensive play. When he has players around him whom he can play combination plays with, then he is really dangerous for the opponent because he has  quick feet and at the same time he knows where his teammates are. What he is working a lot with and what he is putting in his play is to be more decisive in the matches and thereby bringing himself or his fellow player in a position to finish at goal”.

Andreas Laudrup signed a new contract with FCN last year, keeping him in the club for at least 2014.


Andreas Laudrup scores a goal for Lyngby (Youth match)
 
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Follow up: Andreas Bruhn Christensen - 5 shoot shootout

In relation to last weeks talent profile, Andreas Bruhn Christensen answers 5 questions from the twelve yard spot.

Who is your biggest idol?

I have two, and they are Xavi (Barcelona) and Frank Lampard (Chelsea). Xavi has a view of the game and is an intelligent football player who often chooses the right solutions, while Frank Lampard is a scoring midfielder. He scores goals almost when he wants. I would not complain if I could incorporate some of that into my play. 

What is your greatest experience as a football player?The trial in Liverpool and my debut for the Danish national team were some great experiences. It is a dream to represent your country. It was a lovely match, and I played well; all together it was a great experience.
 
Who is the hardest opponent you have ever played against?We met Spain in Copa del Atlantico. They had three midfielders, which were amazing to play against.

Where is Andreas Bruhn in 10 years?I should be in Germany, Holland or England by then. That is what I hope for.
 
Which team would you most like to play for?
If I was to play in Germany would I like to play for Bayern Munich or Borrusia Dortmund. However, playing for Real Madrid in Spain, would be the top of everything.
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The Danish national player is seen as one of the biggest talents in Danish football as well as English football, but the latest years of scandals surrounding the Sunderland attacker have rubbed the shine of Nicklas Bendtner.

Nicklas Bendtner joined Arsenal from the Danish club KB, aged 16, in 2004. Already from this point, things started going fast for Bendtner. In 2005, he had his debut for Arsenal against Sunderland in the League Cup, aged 17, followed up by a professional contract.

In Denmark, Bendtner was selected to play for the Danish U21 national team during the European Championship in Portugal, only aged 18. Here, he had his debut in 2-0 victory against Spain – both goals made by Bendtner. The instant success from the young Dane resulted in Paul Le Guen trying to bring him to Glasgow Rangers. However, Bendtner decides to join the Championship club Birmingham FC on a 6 months loan, where he was guaranteed first team experience.

Once again, had the Danish talent instant success as he scored in his debut. After the match, Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said:
Mikael Fossel had his breakthrough when he was on loan from Chelsea, and let us hope the same happens for Nicklas. He is a different type of attacker, but he has great opportunities to go all the way to the highest level, as long as he can keep both feet on the ground.
Shortly after his debut for Birmingham, Danish national coach Morten Olsen selected Bendtner for the A-squad to play in the friendly against Poland in August 2006. Here, Bendtner was in the starting XI and once again scored in his debut. This resulted in a reselection for the friendly against Portugal and the European Qualification match against Iceland. Bendtner was now seen as the next great attacking hope for Denmark. The attacker scores his second goal in his just second national cap and the success is followed with the winning of the player of the month prize in the Championship. The success doesn't seem to, and the media also contributes to the players, already high self-confident, as journalist Hyder Jawad compares Bendtners talent with Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.

Nicklas Bendtner decides to extend his contract with Birmingham for 6 months, and Birmingham is keen to keep the player if they win the Championship and thereby play in the Premier League the next season. At this time, Bendtner is on the shortlist not only in Chelsea FC, but also in Lyon according to the Danish paper Ekstra Bladet.

When the Danish super striker completes his half season in Birmingham by being part of the team of the month in the Championship for November and a position on the Danish Team of the year 2006, AC Milano is reported to be interested. However, Arsène Wenger insures that Bendtner plays for Arsenal next season:
It is fine for Bendtner to be on loan in a club in the next best league (…) I believe in him, so his future lies with us.
The player himself believes that he will have his breakthrough in Arsenal in the 2007 season as well as the future for the Danish national team. But in the middle of all the success, Bendtner shows his dark side as he starts a fight with Barnsley player Anthony Kay in the dying minutes of the Birmingham loss. Bendtner also gets critic from one of his team mates and former Arsenal striker Andy Cole in an interview with the Danish paper BT:
It requires a lot from him, if he wants to play for regularly for Arsenal. He can not just play as he wants to, when he wants to, in the Premier League. Sometimes he is too selfish and does everything in his way and only his way.
Nicklas Bendtner returns to Arsenal after 48 matches and 13 goals for Birmingham in 2007, and at the same time signing a new 5 year contract with Arsenal. The player says to the Danish TV2 Sporten that he believes he has the qualities or will obtain them to breakthrough in Arsenal. But the players high self-confidence is a problem for the other Arsenal players, as an anonymous source reveals to Ekstra Bladet:
He believes that he should be on the team for every match. He believes he is better than Adebayor, and he is not afraid to tell people.
Even though, the other players seems to have problems with the Dane and he at this point is not in the starting XI, Bendtner says to the Danish press that he is not going on a loan again. He will play in Arsenal or another club, but not on loan.  The players attitude in Arsenal as well as on the national team meets criticism by the Danish national coach Morten Olsen. Even though, he is met with criticism, Bendtner becomes Talent of the year in Denmark 2007.

In the start of 2008, Wenger told the press that he counted on Bendtner this year. However, the attackers year started with a smash on the head. Emmanuel Adebayor smashed his head into Bendtners face during the 5-1 loss to Tottenham in the Carling Cup, after Bendtner had scored an own goal. Once again an anonymous source tells Ekstra Bladet that:
It is not a myth. He is unpopular among the other players. They just do not like him. De think he is arrogant and complacent.
And the former Arsenal striker, Alan Smith also tells they paper about the problem:
I am not saying that he has said too much, but if you brag or has exaggerated self-confident and do not perform, the older players will regard it as something wrong.
But the players’ self-confidence is not to be touched as he says to the Danish magazine Idrætsliv, that his goal is to become one of the world’s best strikers and that he will reach that goal. Arsène Wenger boost the player by saying that he has the talent to reach the top, but former Arsenal player John Hartson has another view as he tells the website setanta.com that Bendtner is nowhere near the top players in Premier League.

Before the Scandinavian clash between Denmark and Sweden in 2009, Bendtner speaks to the Danish paper BT claiming that he will be better than Zlatan Ibrahimovich. He will finally have his breakthrough in Arsenal within the next season and then overtake Ibrahimovich.

However, Bendtner may have the ambitions, but his lack of star potential are shown when he is photographed with his pants falling down while being escorted out of a night club, after Arsenals defeat to Manchester United in the Champions Leauge in May 2009. The embarrassing picture results in a fine from Arsène Wenger.





Nicklas Bendtner signs a new 5 year contract with Arsenal in September 2009, paying 25 million a year. Bendtner reveals that the next five years are to be used for bringing him to the top of Europe. Thomas Bendtner, the father and agent, to Nicklas reveals that big European clubs have been trying to him. But the clubs seem to lose interest as Bendtner is once again involved in a scandal.

 
On the 9th of September, only seven days after he signed a new contract, the Dane crashes in his Aston Martin with 160 km/h on his way to the training ground. The crash injures Bendtner and brings him out of the game in a short time.

When Bendtner is back from his injuries, he is once again met by criticism. This time from Danish national player Martin Jørgensen who says to Danish press that the young player has problems with submitting to the hierarchy on the national team. Bendtner replies that he will only submit because he does not want to be punished. At the same time, Bendtner reveals that he will not play for the Danish U21 team in World Cup, in Denmark, even though he is seen as one of the key players. Nicklas Bendtner now sees himself as a part of the senior team.

Bendtner ends the year winning Player of the Year in Denmark 2009, because of his impressive performances on the national team. After receiving the prize, Bendtner reveals his plan to become top scorer in the World Cup in South Africa 2010 and  the Premier League. His self-confident is once again shown.

2010 started great for the Arsenal player, and he was nominated as Player of the month in March by the clubs fans. But in the summer 2010, Bendtner wanted to leave Arsenal if he was not to be used more often. However, he refused to leave the club on a loan.

This was more than enough for former Arsenal striker Ian Wright how, according to the Danish newspaper BT, said:
Every time Bendtner goes through a period, where he is not in the starting eleven, he is starting to moan.
Nicklas Bendtner also made a final decision not to play in the U21 World Cup for Denmark, as he wanted to spend time with his son. However, Danish press later revealed that Bendtner had actually spent his time in USA with his friends. The fact that the player rather wanted to spent time with his friends, than playing for his national team in Denmark made him a very unpopular man amongst the Danish football fans.

In May ’11 Bendtner decided that it was now time to leave Arsenal, and asked the club permission to be sold, but the club refused to sell him. Agent Thomas Bendtner told that his son was worth 100 million Danish crones (approx. £110.000) and that he was only interested in a club playing, in the Champions League. Several clubs were reported interested including Inter Milano, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lissabon, Stoke and Everton. However, most of the clubs later denied being interested. Instead, Arsenal tried to exchange Bendtner for Boltons Gary Cahill, according to the Bolton News, but this was also rejected.

At some point, Bendtner opened the door for staying in Arsenal, until the last day of the transfer market when Sunderland brought him to the club where he was to be reunited with Steve Bruce. The new Sunderland player wanted to bring the club to the top of Premier League and become top scorer. However, the goals were to be waited for.

In the winter 2011, Bendtner was once again involved in scandals. After a national match, started Bendtner a fight in a Hotel in Helsingør, in Denmark. When the fight was announced in the Danish Press, Bendtner promised in a letter that he would change. This was the last time Bendtners name was mentioned in a scandal, he claimed. But on the fourth of December he was caught laughing during a memorial ceremony for Gary Speed. This resulted in hatred from English football fans, and Sunderlands fans demanded that he should not wear their shirt anymore. Then on the 16th of December, was Bendtner and Lee Cattermole was arrested in suspicion of damaging cars after a match against Newcastle. To end a year of scandals, Bendtner lost his driver license in December after being charged for speeding.


Bendtner is still in Sunderland, and the new coach Martin O’Niel is asking for more goals from the attacker. The question is now, if the attacker stays in Sunderland after this season or if he will find a new club. Bendtner has said that he misses Champions League and wants to play for a Champions League club next year. He also opened for a transfer to Russia.

The future will show if Bendter is to be playing for a Champions League club again. One thing is almost certain. His time in Arsenal is over. I am afraid that Bendtners ego is bigger than his talent will ever be and with all the scandals surrounding him, it is going to be hard for him to find a new club. Unless he can make 20 goals in the last part of this season. The scandals have changed him from the Danish hope for the future, to the country’s black sheep. After the latest scandals, Danish football fans have expressed anger with him and wanted him off the Danish national team. It will take a lot for Bendtner to convince, not only Denmark, but the world that he is the superstar he wants to be. Time will show if he is capable of doing so….
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The Danish U21 national coach, Morten Wieghorst, has a past in Scottish football where he played matches for Dundee FC and Celtic FC. Wieghorst expressed his view on how the Scottish league would look like without Glasgow Rangers.

The former Scottish champion ensured that the league will be able to carry on without Glasgow Rangers, but also said that it would not come so far:
"Rangers is an institution in Scottish football, and I believe that a solution is to be found. They are so influential in the history of Scottish football, and I just do not believe that they will be lost in the Scottish football world right now."
Wieghorst know that the future of the club right now is controlled by economic problems, but said that he could not imagine a situation without the club, as he continued:
"Rangers plays as vital a part in Scottish football as Celtic does so it is much hypothetical to talk about, but should it come so far [the league without Rangers], will the Old Firm matches, which is such a dominant part of Scottish football and an incredible derby, be missed by many."
Morten Wieghorst also believed that the rest of the SPL-clubs had their fingers crossed hoping for the survival of Rangers, as it is a great economical profit to be visited by the club.
 
Asked whether or not he believed that Celtic was dependent on the rivals from Glasgow Rangers, the former national player said:
"That is a matter of opinion. I am saying that the Old Firm matches are great clashes, and they are fantastic to participate in both as a player and fan. I read the other day that Celtic said they were not dependent on Rangers, and both clubs might say so, as they are both of significant size, but there is no doubt that the clashes between them would be missed if one of the two clubs disappeared."
Morten Wieghorst played 90 matches and scored 11 goals for Dundee FC, before transferring to Celtic FC where he scored 10 goals in 86 matches and became Scottish champion in 1998.
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Keep an eye on: Andreas Bruhn Christensen

aabaf1885.dk
               Age: 18 (17-02-1994)
          Position: Center Midfield
              Club: AaB (Aalborg BK),
                    Danish Superliga
             Debut: Still to come
International caps: Denmark U18: 3 Match(es)
                                 0 Goal(s)
             Value: Unknown



Andreas Bruhn, who started his career in the Danish minor club Støvring IF, joined Aalborg BKs youth department in 2008 season. The player joined the club after he had been invited to play for AaB in a cup in Germany in 2007. Here, Bruhn, scored not less than four goals in seven matches.

The talented midfielder here gives a view on his strengths and weaknesses:
“I have a great running capability and I good at taking the deep runs [into the opponents defends]. Besides that, I am a good all-a-rounder and can do a little of everything. One of my weaknesses is that I am not physically big enough as I am quite slender. Another thing is that sometimes, I am a bit slow mentally, when I am on the ball”.

Jacob Friis, Coach of the AaB U19 squad, also shared his view on the player:
“He has a high technical level and quality to drift the ball forward. He is a great, smart player with an intelligent mind for the game. A creative type, that is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of him”.

In his first year at Aalborg Boldspilklub, Andreas Bruhn Christensen was invited on a trial at Liverpool FC together with two other AaB-talents: Lucas Andersen and Viktor Ahlmann Nielsen.
“It was a great experience! I was only fourteen at the time and I never saw it coming, and it was quite overwhelming. We were met by Daniel Agger, and he told us about the club and said that we should just enjoy it”.

Bruhn Christensen had his debut on the Danish U18 national team in the 0-2 loss against Belgium, in 2011. He was also a part of the team playing in the Copa Del Atlantico in Spain where Denmark met the Spanish, and Russian U18 teams.

The international games have given the talented player a taste for more, and he has clear dreams of the future:
“I have a dream of playing in a foreign country; however my short-termed goal is to be a part of the Superliga squad.”

And Jacob Friis believes that the player can make it in another league:
“He as the mentality, which is a need for playing in England. I even believe that he could be a fan favourite with his technical level. But he needs to work with the physic to make it”.

Andreas Bruhn Christensen has 1½ year left of his contract in Aalborg BK, who has high believes to the player. 
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Glasgow Rangers celebrates their 140 year anniversary after being founded in 1873. The club is the most winning club in Scotland with 53 Scottish Premier League titles, 32 Scottish Cup titles, 25 Scottish League Cup titles and one European Cup title in 1972. Being under administration and with the life of the club in the hands of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Costums was not how the club wanted to celebrate the anniversary, but how has it come so far? Great Dane takes a look at the dark clouds hanging above Ibrox Stadium.

Graig Whyte took over the club for the amount of £1 in May 2011, six months after he launched his bid. The Scottish business man bought former Chairman David Murray’s controlling interests (85.3 percent) to his company Wavetower Limited with promises of an immediate £5 million injection to the manager’s summer rebuilding plans and money to improve Ibrox Stadium. Furthermore, the incoming majority shareholders promised a further £20 million of spending over the next four years and guaranteed to settle the clubs debt with Lloyds Banking Group.

After he had taken over the club, Graig Whyte said to The Telegraph that:
Graig Whyte. Photo: EPA
“As a keen Rangers supporter I now look forward to helping the club secure its future as a leading force in Scottish and European football”.

When Whyte bought the club, he also bough the issue of a tax liability for payments of players into offshore accounts, which could be up to £30 million.  This did not seem to be a problem for Whyte, as he said that he was confident that Rangers would win their HM Revenue and Costums tax case.

However, the Glasgow Rangers board members and particularly the Independent Board Committee – which was created for examine the bid – expressed doubts with Whyte and his cash pledges:
“The IBC and Wavetower have differing views on the future revenue generation and cash requirements of the club and the IBC is concerned about a lack of clarity on how future cash requirements would be met, particularly any liability arising from the outstanding HMRC case”.
Alastair Johnston

Mr. Whyte started his career as club owner by suspending the director Martin Bain and the Chief Executive and Director of Finance Donald McIntyre. Furthermore, he removed Alastair Johnston as Chairman along with board member Paul Murray.  While Johnston was one of the critical tongues against the ownership, Bain was behind a rival buy-out bid.

After being removed as Chairman, Johnston said to the Stock Exchange:
“I'm not going to make any comment with respect to the current circumstances at the current time, except that I will say - as a lifelong Rangers fan and a real one - that the 26,000 other shareholders in Rangers, as well as the hundreds of thousands of other supporters need to remain vigilant and continue to exert pressure on Mr Whyte to support the club financially as he has publicly committed to do”.
And followed up with: "Rangers fans must stay on him. I would be the first to congratulate him if he was to be pictured with the SPL trophy this time next season”.

After a negative start for Whyte, he could in June 2011 tell The Telegraph that the club had sold more season tickets than the year before.  The promised money for improving the team also resulted in the signings of players as Dorian Goian, David Weir, Steven Whittaker, Sasa Papac, Bougherra and Lee McCullock.  However, this was not enough for Rangers midfielder Steven Davis, according The Telegraph.
Steven Davis. Photo: PA

In August 2011, Rangers went into discussion with HMRC over appealing a £2.8 million tax liability, from the former regime of Murray, as it was “direct and unwanted legacy of the previous regime”. However, they were left small chances of winning.

At the same time, the club failed to qualify for Champions League with a defeat against Malmö FF and thereby missed a considerable income. On top of that, the club was forced to pay £10.000, by the Court of Session, to two layers that represented them against UEFA in a case about sectarian singing against PSV Eindhoven in the previous season. Normally £10.000 would not be a tremendous amount of money for a club like Glasgow Rangers, but their financial problems were now well-known in public. This led to the Rangers withdrawing for co-operating with the Herald newspaper and its sister titles as they felt that the media had afforded too much publicity in the financial travails.

As the skeletons started to come out of the closet, the tax authorities sent sheriff’s officers to Ibrox Stadium as a part of pursuit of the £2.8 million incurred under the Murray regime. After the visit from the sheriff’s officers, the tax authorities decided to freeze a part of Rangers bank account. The visit also exposed a potential liability of £35 million plus penalties of £14 million in relation an Employee Benefit Trust which was used before Whyte came to the club. To make things even worse for the investor, Telegraph Sport found suggestions that Whyte had mortgaged four years worth of ticket income in order to ensure cash flow. Whyte denounced the suggestion, saying that it was ‘a whispering campaign against him’.

Roddy Forsyth, journalist at The Telegraph, gave Whyte some back up in an article explaining how some of the guilt lies with former stockholder David Murray:
Ruddy Forsyth
“Sir David Murray’s tenure at Ibrox is encapsulated in his boast that if Celtic spent £5, he would outlay £10 and – as was pointed out in these pages when Craig Whyte assumed control of the club – Murray’s cash did bring in almost exactly twice as many trophies as Celtic over the period of his ownership”.

In September 2011, the club came under threat of administration because of a £50 million claim from the tax authorities. The claim from HMRC was as mentioned before, that Glasgow Ranger had wrongfully used the Employee Benefit Trust to reclassify regular salaries as loans that avoided income tax and national insurance, for a decade. In relation to this, Whyte said to the Telegraph Sport, that he would actively seek to leave SPL and join the Premier League to secure Rangers future and that he considered running two teams, one on each border. Another idea was to create an Atlantic League:
“[Joining the Premier League] is clearly something that we would like to see examined, it is something we are working on behind the scenes. But there are other potential ideas in terms of European leagues, joining some of the Nordic countries, the Netherlands to create a league”.

In the middle of all the darkness, Whyte was able to spread some light by announcing that he had paid the £18 million debt to Lloyds Bank by turning it over to his own holding company. In November 2011, the annual figures also showed that the debt was reduced from more than £27 million to £14.06 million. However, the clubs ‘net current liabilities’ rose from £21 to £34.4 million. Then late in November, Graig Whyte announced to the Stock Exchange that he had been banned from being a Company Director by the UK Insolvency Service in June 2000 until 2007. This caused the Scottish FA to investigate him, as their Articles of Association says that individuals would not be allowed to be appointed to a club’s board if:
“He has been disqualified as a director pursuant to the Company Directors’ Disqualification Act 1986 within the previous five years”.

Something the club was later punished with, by the amount of £50.000.

Once again things got even worse for the Rangers as the club failed to publish the audited accounts for the previous year. On top on this, RFC was also found legally bound to refund £7.7 million to debenture holders. Graig Whyte found it time to put Rangers in administration, within ten days, to avoid further tax investigations. He also approached the HMRC with a proposal for a Creditors Voluntary Agreement, to pay off the outstanding debt. If this was allowed, Rangers would be able to emerge from the administration within a month, and thereby still be able to qualify for Europe. However, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Costums wanted to put the club straight into administration, which happened on the 13th of February 2012.

The administration caused a ten point’s penalty for Rangers in the league, making manager McCoist appeal for support from the fans, in order to make it for the title. Meanwhile, the rival club Celtic spread salt in the bleeding wound by saying that they did not need Glasgow Rangers to make it in the top.

Graig Whyte hired the financial advisory company Duff and Phelps as the clubs administrator, and they were quickly to announce that the club will survive, but they needed to secure £9 million. The administrators were not the only one to back up the club as the Scottish First Minister made it clear that Rangers was crucial to Scottish football, as well as the sponsors announced that they were still behind the club.

One of the administrators, Paul Clarke, revealed on a press conference that they had found a ‘invisible’ loan on about £24 million from the company Ticketus:
“Our understanding is that the funds from Ticketus didn’t come through the company’s account. They went through a parent company account, so we haven’t got visibility on that and that’s what we’re trying to get through Companies House”.

The funds from Ticketus were found to have been used by Whyte, to take over the club. Something he defended in a 1500 word statement, by saying:
“The arrangement with Ticketus - which was a three-season deal NOT four, as has been reported - was originally to provide additional working capital as had been the case previously under the old board. My corporate advisors came to me with the proposition that it was entirely possible, as well as highly beneficial, to negotiate a deal with Ticketus that would allow us to complete the takeover and maximise working capital for the club's day-to-day business”.

The pressure on the club and  Mr. Whyte himself led him to step down from three director roles to concentrate on the club. Meanwhile, the fans had met with the former director Paul Murray about a possible takeover.

In the start of March, the administrators stated that the Glasgow Rangers had to save £1 million a month until the end of this season and that there had to be cut downs in the squad. This led to the two players Greg Wylde, and Mervan Celik offered to leave the club without any payoff, while other squad members refused to take a cut in salary. Then on the seventh of March, the administrators announced that they were seeking a swift sale of the club after failing to agree-cost cutting measures with the players. However, only three days later, they could make another announcement, that they had now agreed with the players, saving the Rangers for a little time.


The nightmare for the Rangers fans is not over yet. The future of the club depends on how the ‘big tax case’ goes, which can go on for years, and if the skeletons keep rambling out of the closet.  Latest news is that Paul Murray has gathered a group of investors to take over the club, but will they be allowed? And can they save the sinking boat? Only time will show… Hopefully for the fans, and Scottish and European football; Rangers will still be here the next, many seasons.
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Keep an eye on: Bror Blume-Jensen

Lyngby-boldklub.dk
               Age: 20 (22-01-1992)
          Position: Center Midfield
              Club: Lyngby Boldklub,
                    Danish Superliga
             Debut: 25-08-10 
                    against Fc Fyn,
                    EkstraBladet Cup
International caps: Denmark U20
                    3 match(es)
                    1 goal(s)
             Value: £50.000 
                    (transfermarkt.co.uk)
  
The 20-year old midfielder started his career in BK Skjold before joining Hvidovre IF, where he won the Danish Indoor Football Championship.  He joined Lyngby BKs in 2008 and has been a part of the youth department where he won silver medals with the U19 squad. He had his debut on the senior team in 2010 in the EkstraBladet Cup against the Danish 1. Division team FC Fyn.

Bror Blume signed a new contract with Lyngby in the summer 2011 when he was promoted to the Superliga squad. He has so far had 4 matches for Lyngby, with the Superliga debut against the champions FC Copenhagen.

In relation to the promotion, U19 coach Jens Olsen said to Lyngby BKs website:

"Bror is a skilled technical and dynamic player. He has his starting point on the central midfield and have in the present year scored a well amount of goals from this position".

The midfielder had his debut on the Danish U20 national team against North Ireland during the NI Milk Cup. Blume scored his first goal in his only second match, in the 3-1 victory, against Israel. Bror Blume was also a part of the team that won against North Ireland in the final. 
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In relation to last week's talent profile, Thomas Hagelskjær saves five shot from the twelve yard spot.

Who is your biggest idol?

Peter Schmeichel. He was exceptional and of course Danish, which is a beautiful combination.

Your greatest experience as a football player?

The European Championship Qualification match in the spring, when we [Danish U17 National Team] won against Italy. It was the first important national match I had, and it was at home on Brøndby Stadium in front of 800 fans. There was a fantastic atmosphere, and we played quite well.

Where is Thomas Hagelskjær in 10 years?

Then I will be a goalkeeper in the Premier League for Chelsea FC.

Who is the hardest opponent you have ever played against?

We played against Switzerland and 2-0. They just played real good and we were simply run over by them… I played against Vejle BK last Monday with Aarhus, and we played with a team of U17 and U19 players against their senior. We were under pressure, but it was a great experience. The hardest player I have played against is our own Marcus ‘Hulk’ Solberg here from AGF.

Which team will you most like to play for?

My favorite club is AC Milano, so it would be them, or any club in the Premier League. I would like to play in England.
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According to several british media have the FA drawn a shortlist of potential England managers. Great Dane Football Blog takes a look at the list to find 'for and against' each manager.









Arsène Wenger

             Age: 62 (22-09-1949)
    Current team: Arsenal 
    Former teams: Nancy-Lorraine, Monaco,
                  Nagoya Grampus Eight
          Titles: Monaco: Ligue 1, 
                  Copa de France
                  Nagoya Grampus Eight:
                  Emperors Cup, 
                  J-League Super Cup
                  Arsenal:  
                  FA Premier League x 3, FA Cup x 4,
                  Charity Shield/FA Community Shield x 4
Personal honours: French Manager of the Year: 2008
                  J-League Manager of the Year: 1995
                  Onze d'Or Coach of the Year 2000, 2002,
                  2003, 2004
                  FA Premier League Manager of the Year:
                  1998, 2002, 2004
                  LMA Manager of the Year: 2001-02, 2003-04
                  BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award:
                  2002, 2004
                  FWA Tribute Award: 2005
                  English Football Hall of Fame: 2006
                  Premier League Manager of the Month:  
                  March 1998, April 1998, October 2000,
                  April 2002, September 2002, August 2003,
                  Feb 2004, August 2004, September 2007,
                  December 2007, February 2011, February 2012
                  World Coach of the Decade: 2001-2010 

For: The well honoured Frenchman is the most winning manager ever in Arsenal, and perhaps Wenger could bring some of his luck and mentality to the team. Arsène Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 and did not only revolutionise Arsenal but also English football. However,the revolution seems not to have reached the English national team.

Wenger has a long tradition of bringing talents to Arsenal and give them their breakthrough. With Wenger as manager for England, players as Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck, could perhaps take it to the next level and develop into attackers of European class.

Against: If the Football Association decides to try and get Le Professeur as manager for the England team on of the main questions will be if Arsenal is willing to let him go. Arsène Wenger is the spirit of the club, and it would probably cost a fortune to buy him free. Even if, the FA should have the luck to buy him free, I doubt Wenger is willing to leave Arsenal as it has been a life work for him and he will probably not get the same power in the FA as he has in the club.

Another question is if the national team is ready for a manager as Wenger with his attacking 4-1-4-1 formation instead of the often used 4-4-2.

Wenger as England’s next manager? I doubt it. Mostly because of his love to Arsenal and likewise the clubs love to him. Wengers football style may be more appropriate for the French national team.

José Mourinho

             Age: 49 (26-01-1963)
    Current team: Real Madrid
    Former teams: Benfica, União de Leina,
                  FC Porto, Chelsea FC,
                  Internazionale
          Titles: FC Porto
                  Primeira Liga x 2,
                  TaÇa de Portugal,
                  Supertaga Câdido
                  de Oliveira,
                  UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup
                  Chelsea FC: Premier League x 2, FA Cup x 1,
                  Football League Cup x 2, FA Community Shield
                  Internazionale: Serie A x 2, Coppa Italia,
                  Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Champions League
                  Real Madrid: Copa del Rey
Personal honours: Primeira Liga Manager of the Year: 2002-03,
                  2003-04
                  FA Premier League Manager of the Year: 2004-05,
                  2005-06
                  FA Premier League Manager of the Month: 
                  November 2004, January 2005, March 2007
                  Serie A Manager of the Year: 2008-09, 2009-10
                  Albo Panchina d'Oro: 2009-10
                  Miguel Muños Trophy: 2010-11
                  UEFA Manager of the Year: 2002-03, 2003-04
                  UEFA Team of the Year Best Coach: 2003, 2004,
                  2005,2010
                  Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2005, 2010
                  FIFA Ballon d'Or Best Coach: 2010
                  IFFHS World's Best Club Coach of the Year:
                  2004, 2005, 2010
                  World Soccer Magazine World Manager
                  of the Year: 2004, 2005, 2010
                  CNID Best Portuguese Manager in Foreign
                  Countries: 2008-09, 2009-10
                  BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award:
                  2005
                  La Gazzetta dello Sport Man of the Year: 2010
                  International Sports Press Association
                  Best Manager in the World: 2010
  
For: José Mourinho is the manager with most titles and personal honours on the shortlist. This talks for itself. Another factor that talks for Mourinho as the new manager is that he knows English football as well as Wenger do, and he has made results with Chelsea. It is then up to one and another whether or not these results, in fact, were because of Ambramovichs money. However, Mourinho has showed before that he can get results out of nothing as he did in Porto, where he against all odds won the UEFA Champions League.

Mourinho has almost won everything possible for a club team and the chance of writing a European Championship on his C.V could be a motivating factor for him. Spanish media earlier reported that Real Madrid was on the lookout for a new manager if Mourinho did not bring a trophy to Santiago Bernabeu this season, and the manager has been spotted in London looking for housing.

Against: Mourinho has earlier said to The Sun that he his next job will be in England as he has ‘unfinished businesses'. This unfinished business could well be winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, but he has also been reported as the next Tottenham Hotspurs manager if Harry Redknapp should take over the national team. Mourinho  has a fantastic C.V, but he also has a tarnished reputation as one of the most controversial managers. In a time where the FA struggles with racism charges against the former captain, John Terry, a controversial manager might not be the best signing.

Mourinho as England’s next manager? It is possible. Mourinho has all the qualities to bring England to the final stages of the European Championship. Mourinho would be an eminent name to lead the team, but The Football Association has to think wisely before hiring such a controversial manager.


Harry Redknapp

             Age: 65 (02-03-1947)
    Current team: Tottenham Hotspurs
    Former teams: Bournemouth,
                  West Ham United,
                  Portsmouth,
                  Southampton
          Titles: Bournemouth:
                  Football League
                  Division Three,
                  Football League Trophy
                  West Ham United: UEFA Intertoto Cup
                  Portsmouth: Football League Division One,
                  FA Cup
Personal honours: Premier League Manager of the Year: 2009-10
                  Premier League Manager of the Month:
                  April 2004, October 2004, March 2005,
                  April 2006, August 2009, September 2011,
                  November 2011

For: The shortlist’s oldest manager Harry Redknapp is not only the FAs, but also the fans, favourite to the position. The Englishman has been manager for English teams all his career but has only won two significant trophies. However, the manager has proved his worth first in Portsmouth and now Tottenham, which he has guided to the top of the Premier League. The managers experience and knowledge about English football makes him attractive for leading England. A position the Englishman has already shown his interest for. Furthermore, his coaching style matches the English squad, and he has proved that he can make something out of nothing.

Against: The fact that Redknapp has only won two significant trophies and only has been managing English clubs could be seen as a lack of international experience. This could be important in a position as national manager. Another fact is that Tottenham Hotspurs is not willing to let Redknapp go and have a £5m release clause in his contract, according to the Daily Mail. On top of that, The Football Association has to pay the remaining 15 months. 

Harry Redknapp as England’s next manager? Most likely. As mentioned, is Redknapp the favourite to the position and he is interested in taking it. The only thing that seems to block the appointment of him is the £5m release clause.

Pep Guardiola 

              Age: 41 (18-01-1971)
     Current team: Barcelona
     Former teams: Barcelona B
           Titles: Barcelona B:       
                   Tercera División
                   Barcelona:  
                   La Liga x 3,
                   Copa del Rey,
                   Supercopa de
                   España x 3,
                   UEFA Champions League x 2, UEFA Super Cup x 2,
                   FIFA Club World Cup x 2
 Personal honours: IFFHS World's Best Club Coach
                   of the Year: 2009, 2010
                   Don Balon Award for Best Coach of the Year:
                   2009, 2010, 2011
                   Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2009, 2011
                   Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2008-09, 2009-10
                   World Soccer Magazine World
                   Manager of the Year: 2009, 2011
                   UEFA Team of the Year Best Coach: 2009, 2011
                   La Liga Coach of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011
                   FIFA Ballon d'Or Best Coach: 2011

For: The shortlist’s youngest prospect is also one of the most successful. Like Wenger, Guardiola is a fan of attacking football and would  be a great name for England. Even though, he has only been managing one team on high level, he has won everything that can be won by a club team. Some of the titles more than twice. The Barcelona manager also has a flair for young players and might be able to build up a new English national team.

Guardiolas contract with Barcelona ends after this season, and he can thereby sign with England for free.

Against: Guardiola might not be ready to manage a national team and he has been linked with Mexican club Chivas. However, it is more likely that he will sign a new contract with Barcelona. It would be a great task for Guardiola to take the position. However, if he fails with England, his chances as Spanish national manager in the future might distant. Another question is if the FA can afford to bring such a prominent name and his salary to England and if there is enough prestige in it for the young manager.

Guardiola as England’s next manager? Not a chance! This is a longshot from the Football Association. Guardiola is young and it might be too early for him to take charge of a national team. I believe that we will see the manager in Barcelona a few years longer.


Roy Hodgson

             Age: 64 (09-08-1947)
    Current team: West Bromwich Albion
     Former team: Carshalston
                  Athletic,
                  Halmstad,
                  Bristol City,
                  Oddevold, Örebro,
                  Malmö FF,
                  Neuchâtel Xamax,
                  Switzerland,
                  Internazionale, Blackburn Rovers,
                  Grashopper, FC Copenhagen, Udinese, 
                  United Arab Emirates, Viking, Finland, Fulham,
                  Liverpool
          Titles: Halmstad: Allsvenskan x 2
                  Malmö FF: Allsvenskan x 5, Svenska Cupen x 2
                  FC Copenhagen: Danske Superliga, Danske Super
                  Cup
Personal honours: LMA Manager of the Year: 2010

For: The most experienced manager when it comes to national teams. Roy Hodgson has been in charge of not less than three nations and a couple of teams in Europe. The international experience could be useful for England, and Hodgson do know the English players and league as the back of his hand. Another factor is that the manager often uses a 4-4-2 formation he can use on the national team.

Against: Roy Hodgson might not be the most prominent name to lead the team. He has a lot of experience but, the Allsvenskan and Danske Superliga titles do not  ring a bell for the fans. His great period at Fulham followed up by his miserable stay at Liverpool FC might also scare the FA from hiring him.

Hodgson as England’s next manager? Most unlikely. Hodgson must be one of the last on the shortlist. He has the experience, but that is pretty much it. His career has been like a rollercoaster, and I believe that the Football Association will be taking a chance by hiring Hodgson.

Stuart Pearce

              Age: 49 (24-04-1962)
     Current team: Great Britain Olympic
                   England (Caretaker)
                   England U21
     Former teams: Nottingham Forest
                   (Caretaker),
                   Manchester City
           Titles: None
 Personal honours: None

For: Stuart Pearce has taken the role as caretaker until a new manager is found and has already said that he is interested in being a permanent manager at some point. He is appointed as manager for the Great Britain Olympics team and is in charge of the England U21. He knows the system from the inside. The fact that he is in charge of the U21 team, makes him aware of whom is going to be the next players to represent England, and he will be able to build the team up as he wants it.

 Against: It might be too early for Stuart Pearce to be managing a national team on this level. Given that he has only managed two club teams through out his career makes me think that he might need a bit more experience.

Pearce as England’s next manager? Likely. If the FA fails to sign Redknapp and Pearce makes some convincing results, he might be able to keep the position. However, I still think it is too early for him. 

So, who is it going to be? Only the FA knows, but Harry Redknapp is most likely to be the next manager. Arsène Wenger looks hard to sign as he will not leave Arsenal for any price. José Mourinho and Pepe Guadiola are out of the picture. Mainly because Mourinho is more likely to return to Chelsea while Guadiola just sounds too good to be true. If The Football Association fails to sign Redknapp, Stuart Pearce might be the next manager as he, as mentioned, is already a part of the system. Finally, Roy Hogdson will only be hired if anything else fails.

 
                 

        

 
 


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